Football legend Peter Shilton has split from his wife of more than 40 years.

Friends of the former England goalkeeper say he has been left “heartbroken” by the breakdown of his marriage to Sue.

Shilton, 62, who has been plagued by gambling debts, has moved out of the ­family home and is being supported by friends. Nobody else is ­involved in the split.

A pal of the former ­Nottingham Forest and Derby County star said: “It’s a desperately sad situation and Peter is heartbroken the marriage has come to an end.

“They are doing their best to try to remain friends for the sake of their family.” The couple, who married in 1970, have two sons, Mike, 38, and Sam, 33.

Sue, 59, was a “rock” to Shilton in a glittering career which saw him win a record 125 England caps and play in three World Cups. But off the field there was controversy. In 1981 he was

arrested for drink-driving when he crashed into a lamppost after being caught with another man’s wife in his car. He admitted ­“taking a lady for a meal” and was fined £350 and banned for 15 months. He had to endure rival fans’ chants of “Shilton, Shilton, where’s your wife?”.

But Sue shrugged off claims he had cheated. And she stuck by him when he confessed to a gambling habit towards the end of his ­career, which he wrote about in his 2005 ­autobiography.

The pal said: “They have been through so much so everyone thought they’d be together for ever. She really has been a rock to him.”

Shilton appeared on ITV show Mr and Mrs with Sue in 2009. And she was in the crowd to cheer him on when he took part in last year’s Strictly Come Dancing.

In the past few years he has been working as a property

developer and football pundit.

A spokesman for Shilton said the couple agreed to a trial ­separation after drifting apart.

He added: “They had a long and happy marriage together with two wonderful sons and four precious ­grandchildren.

“There is no third party and no other trigger for the split. Sadly, it’s just one of those things.”